St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-12-31

The Luxurious Mansion in which H.
Resided i'll Richmond by Ladies
All Through His Career-Wby III. loft
the Home of His Benefactors.
During recent trip to Richmond I
visited with much interest the Allan
mansion, where Edgar A. Poe lived a
petted and spoiled child in the home Of
his adopted parents The house occu-
pies commanding position on the corner
of Fifth and Main streets, fronting on
the former and surrounded by what was
once a beautiful garden, now, however.
much neglected. Entering wide
wooden gate, the visitor approaches the
house by grass-grown path, which leads
to spacious porch, opening into broad
hall. 1t is double house, built of brick.
the rooms are large and richly decorated,
and, though dismantled of their former
splendid furniture, the visitor easily be-
lleves that he is treading the deserted
halls OF what was once the handsomest
private residence in Richmond 1t
was in this luxurious home that Poe
grew to manhood, having every whim
gratlfled, being taught like Goldsmith
how to spend but not how to make
money, and brought up with the expecta-
ton of inheriting his adopted fathers
fortune, $4,000 year.
The Allan mansion was built ia 1900
by David Meade Randolph, first cousin
of John Randolph, of Roanoke, who
married his fair cousin, Mary Randolph.
Their home was called Moldayia, after
the husband and wife, Moll and Dave.
Mrs. Randolph was famous woman in
her day-active. energetic and a notable
Virginia housekeeper of the old school.
She was known in Richmond society as the
queen" After many years of generous
living Mr.. Randolph failed, and his wife
was obliged to open a boarding house.
Among her boarders was one Mordecai,
who was very shrewd, rather smart" in
money matters-in fact, he was man who
believed, like Sheridan, that the very
worst use to put ones money is to pay
ones debts. He prided himself upon
cheating Mrs. Randolph, and before
dying left directions that his tombstone
should bear this curious inscription:
Here lies Mordecai, the Jew,
Who cheated all the world and Mrs Ran
dolph, too.
When Moldavia came into Mr. Allans
possession, he wrote to some friends in
Scotland that he had bought the most
desirable piece of property in Richmond
The house was superbly furnished by its
new owner, who was one of the richest
tobacco merchants in the South. He was
a bon ctrant, and gave many splendid en-
tertainments. At these social gath
erings, Poe, who was at that time
known by the name of his adopted
father, was quite a conspicuous figure,
and recited stirring passages from Byron,
Scott, Moore and other popular poets of
the time, including his own boyish
verses. Poe's declamatory powers, even
at that early day, were remarkable,
and won great praise from the pol
ished society that frequented the
Allan mansion. The ladies, espec-
tally, petted the young genius, and
spoiled him by their sweet fattery.
This same Fl male adulation followed the
poet through his unhappy after life, and
whatever sings and arrows outrageous
fortune showered upon him, not one
came from woman's hand. His truest,
stanchest friends and defenders during
life, and since, have been of the gentle
sex. 1t was woman, Mrs: Sarah Helen
Whitman, who proudly proclaimed her.
self one. of his friends, and wrote
the most eloquent defense of the dead
poet. 1t was woman's hands-those of
the public school teachers of Baltimore
who started the movement which re-
suited in the erection of a monument
over Poe's long-neglected grave in West
minister Churchyard in that city.
Mr.. Allan regarded little Edgar as
sort of infant prodigy, and did every
thing he could to bring him into notice.
When the boy was only ten years old he
wanted to publish his juvenile verses,
and only abandoned his intention upon
the advice of Professor Clarke, Edgars
teacher, who said it would be an injury
and an injustice to bring so precocious
boy before the public as an author. AS
Poe grew to manhood he appeared at the
balls and dinner parties given by Mr..
and Mrs Allan in the most elegant dress
of the day. His allowance of money was
very liberal and he spent it with prlncely
probability His wardrobe was some
thing extraordinary, and he was the most
respIendent of the jeunesse dore of Rich
mond.
1t was in these halcyon days that the
young dandy-poet first saw and loved
Elmira Royster. This early love was
long afterward immortalized in the eX-
ouisite ballad of "Annabel Lee" 1t so
happened that during Poe's last visit 10
Richmond, just before his untimely death,
he met again his first love, then MIS-;
Elmira Shelton, a widow, and wooed ana
woa her second time.
After Poes return to Richmond from
the University of Virginia, Mr. Allan
thought it was time for him to settle
down to something practical, and gave
him his choice of a profession: Poe chose
the army and was placed at west foint.
The severe discipline there not sult1hs
his poetical temperament, ana MI; Ailan